Key case



Patented Apr. 21, 1936 PATENT, OFFICE KEY CASE Herman B. Welch, West Bend, Wis., assignor to Amity Leather Products 00., West Bend, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 29, 1935, Serial No. 33,696

11 Claims. (01. 150-40) This invention relates to key cases.

The general purpose and object of my invention is to provide an improved key holding means for releasably securing the individual keys in the case.

A further object of my invention is to provide the key holder which is secured in the case with means whereby the several key attaching members may be independently applied to and be released from the holder without releasing or disturbing the connection of the other members with the holder.

A further object of my invention is to provide the means aforesaid in theform of key-hole slots in the holder and resilient tongues normally closing the entrance ends of the slots, said tongues being flexed independently by the members on applying the members to and releasing them from the slots. 1

A further object of the invention is to. provide the key attaching members in the form of rigid elements whereby the latter may be not only readily and easily grasped, but may be readily and easily pressed against the tongues to flex them on applying a key attaching member to and releasing it from the holder.

A further object of the invention is to provide the holder in the form of a plate secured to the body of the case and provided at the slots with an outwardly bulged or offset portion whereby the key attaching members and attached keys may be swung into and out of the case from pendant positions with respect to said bulged portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide the key attaching members with headed inner ends for releasable and swingable connection with the slots of the holder and with socketed outer ends to provide swivel mountings for the key securing devices.

A further object of the invention is to construct the holder of two plates, one arranged over the other whereby the connection between the key case cover and the inner plate may be adjacent the upper edge of the cover and thus prevent flexing of the cover away from the holder in the use of the key device.

The invention consists further in the features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing;

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a key case equipped with a key holding means constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig; 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 to illustrate details or the construction;

Figs. 3 and 4 are elevational views of the flexible closure providing member and the rear plate of the holder, respectively; and 5 Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2 of a modified form of construction to be hereinafter described.

The key case, as shown in Fig. 1, has an enclosing envelope comprised of a single piece of 10 leather or other suitable covering material of the desired flexibility, size, and shape and divided into-three integrally connected sections I, 2, and 3. The section I is the mid-section of the case and constitutes the supporting panel to which 15 the key holding means of my invention is secured. The other sections 2, 3 serve as flaps on opposite sides of the mid-section and are foldable into overlapping relation over the mid-section to enclose the key holding means and attached keys in 20 the case as in devices of this general character. The flaps 2, 3 are releasably secured together in overlapping relation by a snap fastener, the cooperative parts 4, 5 of which are carried by the respective flaps, as shown in Fig. 1.

The key holding means of my invention includes a pair of overlapping metal or other rigid plates 6, I secured as by rivets or eyelets 8, 9 to the inner side of the panel I adjacent its upper edge. The plate 6 is first applied to the panel 30 I and secured in place by the rivets 8 whereupon the plate I is laid over the plate 6 and secured to the panel I by the rivets 9, the rivets 9 passing through both plates, and the yieldable closure providing member I0 interposed between the plates as shown.

The plate 6 has flatwise contact with the panel I except at the upper edge of the plate, which edge is ofiset inwardly from the body of the plate to provide a marginal flange I I. The plate 40 I is co-extensive with the plate 6 and is provided along its upper edge with an inwardly extending flange I2, which flange interlocks with the flange II to secure the" upper edges of the plates together as shown in Fig. 2. In accomplishing this function the flange I2 fits against the inside of the flange II in the space between the flange II and the panel I. This prevents separation of the plates at their upper edges and allows the use of one set of rivets 9 to secure the plates together and to the panel I. The location of the rivets 8 adjacentthe upper edge of the panel I prevents separation of the panel from the inner plate 6. The upper portion of the plate 1 is preferably flush with the upper edge of the panel I so located as to hold the upper marginal porsimilar in shape. The shanks l8 are so formed as tion of the panel against the flange I2 and thus preclude gapping to detract from the appearance of the finished article.

The plates 6 and I are preferably in the form of stampings and extend crosswise of the panel from one side to the other as shown so that the key holding means as provided by the plates may accommodate a fairly large number of keys, six being provided for in the particular embodiment disclosed.

The outer plate I has. an outwardly bulged substantially semi-cylindrical portlon l3 along its upper edge and extending from one side of the plate to the other as shown. Laterally spaced and similarly disposed slots I4 are provided in the bulged portion l3 in transverse relation thereto and these slots continue into the adjacent flat, portion l5 of the plate I below the bulged portion. The slots l4 connect at their lower ends with larger apertures or openings 16 in the flat portion of the plate, thus giving slots the conventional key-hole shape.

The openings l6, one for each slot i4 extend through the plate 1 and are closed on their inner sides by yieldable closures [1. These closures for the several slots are in the form of substantially flat spring-like tongues provided on the closure providing member It as shown in Fig. 3. The member l0 is in the form of a metal plate of the desired spring material, the plate providing a common support for all of the tongues as shown. The tongues are integral with the plate being formed by slitting the plate through one longitudinal edge.

The member I0 is secured in place between the plates 6 and I with the tongues l1 overlying the inner sides of the slot M at the openings I6 and extending part way into the bulged portion l3 as illustrated in Fig. 2. The portion 15 of the plate I in which the opening l6 and the adjacent portion of the slots H are provided is offset inwardly from the panel I to provide a flexing space for the tongues I! in applying the key attaching members, to be hereinafter described, to and releasing them from the slots in the plate I. The tongues I! are also ofiset inwardly from the body of the member I so that the tongues may normally lie close to the inner sides of their respective openings and slots.

The key attaching members, one for each slot ll, are in the form of rigid members, each having a shank l8 provided at one end with a head l9 and at the opposite end with a socket 20 as shown in Fig. 2. The heads I9 are larger'than the slots 14 so as to bridge the slots when the members are engaged in the slots. The heads I! are smallenhowever, than the openings l6 whereby the members may be applied to and removed from the plate I. When the openings 16 are circular as shown, the heads of the members are to pass readily through the slots.

A snap hook 2| is provided for each key attaching member [8. The hooks are engaged with the sockets 20 and serve to connect the selected keys thereto as shown. The hooks are preferably formed as shown in Fig. 2, each book having one end free whereby a key may be readily applied to and removed from the hook. The other end of the hook fits in the socket 20 of its associated attaching member I8. [The connection between the two is a swiveled one so that the key and hook 1| may be turned and swung; respectively, with respect to the attaching member. Thus freedom of movement is allowed for the key especially when out of the case in position for use as indicated in Fig.1. This swivel connection is provided by having the socket 20 cylindrical and the engaged portion .of the hook circular or in ball-like form as shown.

To engage an attaching member l8 with the plate 1, the head 19 of the member is inserted into the selected opening l6 and the member is pressed inwardly against the yieldable or spring closure H for such opening. This flexes the closure inwardly, as apparent from Fig. 2, and when the. head of the member clears the walls of the slot II, the member is moved or shifted upwardly into the bulged portion l3 whereupon the pressure on the closure I1 is released and the latter '-snaps into closing position against the rear side to the plate may be individually swung from a pendant position within the case to a. useable or operative position exterior of the case and above the plate I as shown in Fig. 1.

Each key attaching member I8 is long enough to be readily and easily grasped for forcing it against a closure I1 and to position its key exterior of the case as shown in Fig. 1.

- With the closures," flexible independently of each other, the application of a member l8 to or the removal of a member from the plate 1 will not release the connection of the other members ill with the plate with the result that the other keys cannot be accidentally disconnected from the plate in the application or removal of one key to and from the plate. Moreover, with the yieldable closures or tongues l1 flexed by forcing the members l8 against them. the keys may be applied to and removed from the plate with considerable ease in that the body of the key case may be appropriately held in one hand and the selected member l8 manipulated with the other without the necessity of manually holding the releasable closure or tongue in open position to receive or release a member It.

The free or upper ends of the several tongues I! where they extend into the bulged portion iii of the plate I are deflected or bent away from the plate so as to avoid the presence of a shoulder to hinder the movement of a member I 8 into the space between the plate I and the tongue when releasing a member from the plate. The bulged portion l3 extends sufliciently outward from the body of the plate 1 that the keys connected to the plate by the several members I8 may hang in pendant relation to the plate and thus be readily closed within the case when the closing flaps 2, S are folded one on the other and secured together by the snap fastener between them. Fur-' thermore, construction is simple and inexpensive to make and provides an efficient key holding means for key cases. The plate 6 also takes the wear of the tongues I'I, if any, when flexed inwardly, and thus protects the panel I from, contact with the tongues or well as with the head ends of the fasteners ll.

The modification shown in Fig. is the same as the structure previously described except that the inner plate 6 of the previous structure is omitted and thus also the rivets 8 are not employed. The upper edge of the plate 1a is not flanged as in the previous construction terminating directly adjacent the inner surface of the panel I a to which the plate is secured by rivets or eyelets 9a. In all other respects the construction is similar to that of the previous one and similar parts are marked with like reference numerals.

The details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit-and scope of my invention, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a key case, a support, a holder having a plate secured to the support, said plate having a key-hole slot therein, a member for attaching a key to the plate, said member having a headed and engageable with the slot through the larger portion thereof, and yieldable means at the larger portion of the slot to releasably connect the member to the plate, said means being clamped be tween the plate and the support and being flexed on applying the member to and removing it from the slot.

2. In a key case, a support, a key holder having a plate secured to the support, said plate having a plurality of spaced key-hole slots therein, members for attaching keys to the plate at the slots, said members, each having a headed end engageable with a slot through the larger portion thereof, and yieldable means at the larger portions of the slots for releasably connecting the members to the plate, the yieldable means for the several slots clamped between the support and the plate and flexing independently of each other on applying the members to and releasing them from the slots.

3. In a key case, a support, a key holder comprising a pair of overlapping plates secured to the support. a key-hole slot in the outer plate, a member for attaching a key to the outer plate, said member having a headed end engageable with the slot through the larger portion thereof, said outer plate being offset outwardly from the inner plate at said slot to provide a recess to accommodate the headed end of said member when attached to the outer plate, and resilient means at the entrance end of the slot to releasably connect the member to the outer plate, said means being clamped in position by the plates and flexing on applying the member to and releasing it from the slot.

4. In a key case, a support, a key holder having a plate secured to the support, said plate having a barrel-like portion along its upper edge and projecting outwardly from the front side of the plate, a plurality of laterally spaced key-hole slots in said barrel, said slots extending transversely of the barrel and into the part of the plate below the same, members for attaching keys to the plate at the slots, said slots having their entrance ends in the portion of the plate below the barrel whereby the key attaching members may be attached to and removed from the slots from the front side of the plate while held in substantially transverse relation thereto, said members each having a headed end for engagement with the slots through the entrance ends thereof, and yieldable closures for the entrance ends of the slots, said closures being clamped between the plate and the support and flexing independently of each other on applying the members to and removing them from the slots.

'5. In a key case, a support, a plate secured to said support, said plate having a barrel-like portion projecting outwardly from the front side of the plate, a key hole slot-in the plate, said slot having its narrower portion extending across the barrel andinto the adjacent front part of the plate, a key attaching member having a headed end insertable through the larger portion of the slot and shiftable to the narrower portion of the slot in the barrel for connecting the member to the barrel, said slot having its larger portion in the front part of the plate adjacent the barrel, whereby the key attaching member may be applied to or removed from the slot from the front side of the plate, and yieldable means at the larger portion of the slot to releasably connect the member to the barrel, said means being flexed on inserting the member into or removing it from the slot.

6. In a key case, a support, a plate secured to said support, said plate having a barrel-like portion projecting outwardly from ,the front side of the plate, a key hole slot in the plate, said slot having its narrower portion extending across the barrel and into the adjacent front part of the plate, a key attaching member having a headed end insertable through the larger portion of the slot and shiftable to the narrower portion of the slot in the barrel for connecting the member to the barrel, said slot having its larger portion in the front part of the plate adjacent the barrel, whereby the key attaching member may be applied to or removed from the slot from the front side of the plate, and a yieldable closure for the larger portion of the slot, said closure being on the inner side of the plate. for releasably connecting the member to the barrel, said closure being flexed on applying the member to or removing it from the slot.

7. In a key case, a support, a plate secured to said support, said plate having a barrel-like portion projecting outwardly from the the front side of the plate, a key hole slot in the plate, said slot having its narrower portion extending across the barrel and into the adjacent front part of the plate, a key attaching member having a headed end insertable through the larger portion of the slot and shiftable to the narrower portion of the slot in the barrel for connecting the member to the barrel, said slot having its larger portion in the front part of the plate adjacent the barrel, whereby the key attaching member may be applied to or removed from the slot from the front side of the plate, and a yieldable closure for the larger portion of the slot, said closure being on the inner side of the plate and extending along the slot toward the barrel for releasably connect' ing the member thereto, said closure being flexed inwardly by the member on applying the member to or removing it from the slot, the plate at the closure being offset to provide a flexing space for the closure.

8. In a key case, a support, a plate secured to the support, said plate having a barrel-like portion projecting outwardly from the front side of the plate, a plurality of laterally spaced key hole slots in the plate, said slots having their narrower portions extending across the barrel and into the adjacent front part of the plate, key attaching members, one for each key and able to the narrower portion of the slot in the barrel for connecting the member to the barrel, said slots having their larger portions in the front part of the plate adjacent the barrel whereby the members may be applied to or removed from the slots from the front side of the plate, yieldable tongues closing the larger portions of the slots for releasably connecting the members to the barrel, said tongues being flexed independently of each other on applying the members to or removing them from the slots, and a common support for the tongues.

9. In a key case, a support, a pair of overlapping plates secured to the support, the outer plate I having a barrel-like portion projecting outwardly from the front side of said plate, a key hole slot in the outer plate, said slot having its nar- I.

whereby the key attaching member may be applied to or removed from the slot from the front 30v side of the outer plate, and yieldable means at the larger portion of the slot to releasably connect the member to the barrel, said means being flexed on applying the member to or removing it from the slot, said inner plate extending across the barrel on the inner side thereof and having each member having'a headed end lnsertable through the larger portion of a slot and shiftto the support, said plate having a barrel-like portion projecting outwardly from the front side of the plate, a key hole slot in the plate, said slot having its narrower portion extending across the barrel and into the adjacent front part of the plate, a key attaching member having a headed end insertable through the larger portion of the slot and shiftable to the narrower portion of the slot in the barrel for connecting the'member to the barrel, said slot having its larger portion in the front part of the plate ad- Jacent the barrel whereby the member may be applied to or removed from the slot from the front side of the plate, yieldable means at the larger portion of the slot to releasably connect the-member to the barrel, said means being flexed on inserting the member into or removing it from the slot, and a key holding-element swivelly connected to said member.

.11. In a key case, a support, a plate secured 20 to the support, said plate having ,a barrel-like portion projecting outwardly from the front side of the plate, a key hole slot in the plate, said slot having its narrower portion extending across the barrel and a communicating portion in the front part of the plate adjacent the barrel, a key attaching member having a headed end insertable through the larger portion of the slot and shiftable to the narrower'portion of the slot in the barrel for connecting the member to the barrel, said slot having its larger portion in the front part of the plate adjacent the barrel whereby the key attaching member may be applied to or removed fromthe slot from the front side of the plate, and yieldable means to releas- 36' interlocking connection with the'outer plate at/ ably connect the member to the plate.

the barrel.

10. In 'a key case, a support, a plate secured HERMAN B. WELCH. 

